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Protesters to oil companies: Frack off

Story highlights

Residents worry about potential earthquakes and tap water tainted with natural gas

Energy company has not applied for permission to frack, but protesters try to block its work

U.S. protesters have flown to the UK to join local demonstrators

UK energy minister: 'If there is any risk it will be stopped immediately'

The fear of fracking has come to Britain, replete with worries about potential earthquakes and tap water tainted with natural gas that bursts into flames at the strike of a match..

Since a ban on the method of extracting natural gas was lifted in May, a company has begun exploratory drilling in the southern town of Balcombe to see what reserves may lie locked up in rock strata far beneath its rolling hills and green meadows.

Cuadrilla believes there is about 200 trillion cubic feet of gas under the ground just within one of its local license areas. To put that figure into context, the United Kingdom uses about 3 trillion cubic feet of gas a year, chief executive officer Francis Egan said.

"We are able absolutely to protect the environment and protect the way in which fracking is done," said Britain's energy minister Michael Fallon. "If there is any risk it will be stopped immediately."